Apparatus for injecting fluids into molten metals

ABSTRACT

Fluids, particularly gases are injected into a molten metal container through an injector head having a tapered outer surface. An opening is formed through the refractory lining of the container by means of an inner refractory member having an opening therein tapering axially inwardly toward the inside of the lining so as to receive the injector head, and an outer refractory member having a female threaded opening therein. A male threaded refractory member having a hole therethrough for passage of the fluid is threaded into the outer refractory member and bears against the injector head. A nut may be attached to the container shell and a male threaded member threaded therethrough to bear against the outer refractory member.

11] 3,834,685 Sept. 10, 1974 United States Patent [191 Ziemk iewicz et al.

[ APPARATUS FOR INJECTING FLUIDS Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Vincent G. Gioia; Robert F.

INTO MOLTEN METALS [75] Inventors: Leonard P. Ziemkiewicz; Victor P.

Ardito, both of Lower Burrell; James W. Torrence, Natrona Heights, all of Pa.

G n I Gw .w r t s u d n I m .m d 3 u m7 L, a mr4 u2 b e+ t Hum APS e n .m d s m A F MM 7 2 rt axially inwardly toward the inside of the linin receive the injector head, and an outer member having a female threaded 0 male threaded refracto Appl. No.: 400,089

g so as to refractory pening therein. A

ry member having a hole therethrough for passage of the fluid is threaded into the outer refractory member and bears against the injece container shell ed therethrou tor head. A nut may be attached to th and a male threaded member thread to bear against the outer refractory member.

10 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 2 S T N m mA P mAw rT m.

J Ill s \\l|i l H1 i" W I 5 ///M,/// 1 l a 6 III W /y A, A w m rr||( l "(1.7 1:71 F l, H. 6 J 0 \2\4\\\\\\\\\\\ 27 0 2 2 8 l m w [I APPARATUS FOR INJECTING FLUIDS INTO MOLTEN METALS This invention relates to apparatus for injecting fluids into a molten metal container and more particularly to injecting gases through an injector head of the porous plug type into a ladle. It is quite common to inject fluids through porous plug bubblers, tuyeres, channel type blocks, etc. into a molten metal container. Those injector assemblies of which we have knowledge have various disadvantages. Metal cut-throughs out of the ladle adjacent the injector assembly often occur. This is costly because of steel loss and damage to the ladle and adjacent equipment. In present systems after a bubbler has been used, the ladle is taken out of service and cooled down for at least 24 hours before a man can get inside the ladle and install a new bubbler. This is because the bubbler cannot be removed or installed from the outside.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide apparatus for injecting fluids into a molten metal container in which the injector assembly can beremoved and installed from the outside of the container while still hot.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which is so constructed that it minimizes metal cut-throughs out of the container adjacent the injector assembly.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art after referring to the following specification and attached drawing in which the single FIGURE is a sectional view of our apparatus installed in a ladle.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2 indicates the metal shell of a ladle or other molten metal container. The shell 2 has an opening 4 therein. While the opening 4 is shown in the bottom of the ladle, it will be understood that it may be provided in any part of the shell. Positioned within opening 4 and welded to shell 2 is a steel flange member 6 having an axial opening 7 therethrough. The upper or inner part of member 6 extends inside shell 2 and has a counterbored portion 8. The lower or outer part of member 6 extends outside of shell 2 and has a counterbored portion 10 and four equally spaced slots 12 around its periphery. Each slot 12 has an enlarged upper portion 14 forming a shoulder 16. A refractory sleeve block 18 has a reduced diameter bottom portion 20 which is received within counterbored portion 8 of flange member 6 and a similar reduced diameter upper portion 22. A female threaded axial opening 24 extends through block 18. A refractory pocket block 26 has a tapered or conical axial opening 28 therethrough with an enlarged diameter cylindrical bottom opening 30 forming a shoulder 32 which rests on top of sleeve block 18. A

refractory lining 34 extends from the inside of shell 2 to the top of pocket block 26. The foregoing part form part of the permanent structure of the ladle and are not replaced unless they become worn out.

A steel flange nut 36 having an axial female threaded opening 38 therethrough has a radial flange 40 the top of which abutts the bottom of ladle flange member 6. The flange 40 has four equally spaced holes 42 therethrough aligned with slots 12. The nut 36 is secured to ladle flange member 6 by means of bolts 44 one received in each of aligned slots 12 and bolts 42 with the bottom of the bolt head resting on shoulder 16. The flange nut 36 may remain in place at all times.

A gas injector, plug or bubbler 46 is received within opening 30 and has a tapered or conical body portion 48 shaped to conform to opening 28, but with some clearance therearound. As shown, bubbler 46 has a steel shell made from a bottom plate 50 welded to a hollow frustro-conical plate 52. The plate 50 has a hole 54 therein which receives a downwardly extending pipe 56. The inside of the steel shell is filled with a permeable refractory 58 such as that shown in De Moustier et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,645 dated July 11, 1967. While our invention was particularly designed for a bubbler of this type, it will be understood that it is equally suitable for injecting any gas into a molten metal container. For example, it may be used with devices shown in Holmes U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,910 dated Aug. 6, 1968; Koudelka et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,151 dated Feb. 11, 1969 and Holmes US. Pat. No. 3,614,083 dated Oct. 19, 1971.

The bubbler 46 is supported on top of a male threaded refractory sleeve 60 threaded into threaded opening 24. The sleeve 60 has an axial opening 62 therein for receiving pipe 56. Holes 64 are provided in the bottom of sleeve 60 for receiving a tool to thread the sleeve 60 into block 18. The sleeve 60 is further supported on top of a male threaded steel retainer 66 threaded into threaded opening 381 and having an axial opening 68 therein for passage of pipe 56. The bottom of retainer 66 is provided with slots 70 for receiving a tool to rotate the retainer. A gas conduit 72 connected to the bottom of pipe 56 leads to a source of gas (now shown).

To assemble the parts, cement 74 of any suitable composition is placed around the outside of body portion 48 and the bubbler 46 placed on top of support block 60. The two parts are then inserted through threaded opening 24. As soon as the threads on block 60 engage the threaded opening 24, the block 60 is rotated so as to screw it upwardly into block 18 until it abutts the bottom of block 26. The upward thrust during this rotation forces the bubbler 46 solidly into opening 28 forming a cemented joint between the opening 28 and bubbler 46. The steel retainer 66 is then threaded into nut 36 to seal off the refractory assembly and the gas conduit 72 connected to the bottom of pipe The bubbler can be removed as soon as the molten metal is removed from the ladle. This is done by first removing gas conduit 72, then unscrewing retainer 66 and block 60. The bubbler 46 will either follow downwardly of its own weight or, if necessary, downward force can be exerted on pipe 56 to remove the bubbler.

It has been found that this assembly substantially prevents metal cut-throughs adjacent the assembly. The threaded connection between parts 18 and 60 represents virtually the only path the molten metal could foling from the outside of said. container to the inside of said lining, the inner end of said opening being of minimum cross section and having at least a portion thereof tapering axially inwardly to the inside of said lining, a fluid injector head having its outer surface tapered similarly to the tapered portion of said opening, female threads having their axis in alignment with said opening, and a male threaded member threaded into said female threads and exerting a force on said injector head to hold it in said tapered opening, said male threaded member having an axial opening therein for passage of said fluid to said fluid injector head, said opening through said refractory liner being formed by a refractory inner member having the tapered portion of said opening therein and a refractory outer member having said female threads therein.

2. Apparatus for injecting a fluid into a molten metal container comprising a refractory lining with an opening from the outside of said container to the inside of said lining, the inner end of said opening being of minimum cross section and tapering axially inwardly to the inside of said lining, the outer end of said opening having female threads therein, and means filling said opening, said means including a fluid injector head having its outer surface tapered similarly to the tapered portion of said opening and received therein, and a male threaded elongated refractory outer portion threaded into said female threads to force said injector head into said tapered opening, said male threaded refractory portion having an axial opening therein for passage of said fluid to said fluid injector head.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said container includes a metal shell for said refractory lining, and said apparatus includes a metal member welded to said shell and extending through a hole therein, said metal member bearing against the outer end of said outer refractory member and having an axial hole therein for passage of said fluid.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said male threaded member extends entirely through said outer refractory member into said metal member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a nut attached to the outer end of said metal member, and a second male threaded member threaded into said nut and bearing against said first male threaded member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 including a nut attached to the outer end of said metal member, and a second male threaded member threaded into said nut and bearing against said first male threaded member.

7. Apparatus for injecting a gas into a refractory lined molten metal container having a metal shell which comprises a metal member welded to and extending through an opening in said metal shell, an outer refractory member in said refractory lining abutting said metal member, an inner refractory member in said refractory lining abutting said outer refractory member and extending inwardly to a point adjacent the inner surface of said refractory lining, said members having aligned axial openings therein, the opening in said inner refractory member being smaller than the opening in said outer refractory member and tapering axially inwardly toward the inside of said refractory lining, the opening in said outer refractory member being female threaded and smaller than the opening in said metal member, a gas bubbler head fitted in said tapered opening, a refractory member having male threads threaded into said outer refractory member and having an axial opening for passage of gas to said gas bubbler head.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said bubbler includes a metal shell, a pipe extending axially outwardly and attached to said metal shell, and a permeable refractory in said metal shell, said pipe extending through said male threaded refractory member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including a nut secured to the outer end of said metal member, and a male threaded retainer threaded into said nut and having an axial opening therein for passage of said pipe.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a nut secured to the outer end of said metal member and a male threaded retainer threaded into said nut and having an axial opening therein for passage of said gas. 

1. Apparatus for injecting a fluid intO a molten metal container comprising a refractory lining with an opening from the outside of said container to the inside of said lining, the inner end of said opening being of minimum cross section and having at least a portion thereof tapering axially inwardly to the inside of said lining, a fluid injector head having its outer surface tapered similarly to the tapered portion of said opening, female threads having their axis in alignment with said opening, and a male threaded member threaded into said female threads and exerting a force on said injector head to hold it in said tapered opening, said male threaded member having an axial opening therein for passage of said fluid to said fluid injector head, said opening through said refractory liner being formed by a refractory inner member having the tapered portion of said opening therein and a refractory outer member having said female threads therein.
 2. Apparatus for injecting a fluid into a molten metal container comprising a refractory lining with an opening from the outside of said container to the inside of said lining, the inner end of said opening being of minimum cross section and tapering axially inwardly to the inside of said lining, the outer end of said opening having female threads therein, and means filling said opening, said means including a fluid injector head having its outer surface tapered similarly to the tapered portion of said opening and received therein, and a male threaded elongated refractory outer portion threaded into said female threads to force said injector head into said tapered opening, said male threaded refractory portion having an axial opening therein for passage of said fluid to said fluid injector head.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said container includes a metal shell for said refractory lining, and said apparatus includes a metal member welded to said shell and extending through a hole therein, said metal member bearing against the outer end of said outer refractory member and having an axial hole therein for passage of said fluid.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said male threaded member extends entirely through said outer refractory member into said metal member.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a nut attached to the outer end of said metal member, and a second male threaded member threaded into said nut and bearing against said first male threaded member.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 3 including a nut attached to the outer end of said metal member, and a second male threaded member threaded into said nut and bearing against said first male threaded member.
 7. Apparatus for injecting a gas into a refractory lined molten metal container having a metal shell which comprises a metal member welded to and extending through an opening in said metal shell, an outer refractory member in said refractory lining abutting said metal member, an inner refractory member in said refractory lining abutting said outer refractory member and extending inwardly to a point adjacent the inner surface of said refractory lining, said members having aligned axial openings therein, the opening in said inner refractory member being smaller than the opening in said outer refractory member and tapering axially inwardly toward the inside of said refractory lining, the opening in said outer refractory member being female threaded and smaller than the opening in said metal member, a gas bubbler head fitted in said tapered opening, a refractory member having male threads threaded into said outer refractory member and having an axial opening for passage of gas to said gas bubbler head.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said bubbler includes a metal shell, a pipe extending axially outwardly and attached to said metal shell, and a permeable refractory in said metal shell, said pipe extending through said male threaded refractory member.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including a nut secured to the outer end of said metal member, and a mAle threaded retainer threaded into said nut and having an axial opening therein for passage of said pipe.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a nut secured to the outer end of said metal member and a male threaded retainer threaded into said nut and having an axial opening therein for passage of said gas. 